**[Intro]** *[Vinyl crackle. Distant traffic. Kids playing. An open window nearby.]* **[Spoken]** Can you tell me how to get… to the street where I’m from? You see sunshine and numbers. I remember survival. **[Verse 1]** I came up where the chalk got guarded by the curb, Where a tricycle convoy made the whole block swerve. Big Bird on the corner with a feathered-up stance, Countin’ every step like he was checkin’ the advance. One, two, three — hear the window conduct, Somebody teachin’ letters while the traffic backs up. I kept my head low near the alphabet gate, A is for attitude, B is for **don’t be late**. **[Spoken]** Nobody move. The letter E has been compromised. **[Chorus]** You see sunshine and numbers, I remember survival, Made it through the crosswalk, Kept my dreams on arrival. You see friendly faces, I see rivals in denial, Welcome to the neighborhood, Educational but tribal. **[Verse 2]** Cookie on the stoop with a look in his eye, Said he only wanted snacks — that’s exactly the lie. Oscar in the can, still complainin’ on cue, Had a whole trash operation and a permit or two. The Count hit the block, everybody got tense, He was laughin’ while he tallied up the fence. Five little ducks? That’s a coded parade, And the letter practice got the whole squad trained. **[Spoken]** Repeat after me: A, B, C. **[Voice from window]** A, B, C! **[Spoken]** Good. Now spell “eviction.” **[Chorus]** You see sunshine and numbers, I remember survival, Made it through the crosswalk, Kept my dreams on arrival. You see friendly faces, I see rivals in denial, Welcome to the neighborhood, Educational but tribal. **[Bridge]** No sirens, just a bus with a squeaky brake, No beef, just a puppet with a grudge to make. The kids keep playin’, the old folks complain, And somebody’s still drillin’ that alphabet refrain. **[Outro]** *[Traffic rolls past. Children laugh. Vinyl crackle rises.]* A is for avenue, B is for block, C is for countin’ every tick of the clock. You see sunshine and numbers — that’s your survival? I see the whole street smiling. Maybe I got it wrong. **[Spoken]** Still watchin’ my back, though.
